BAYELSA NEWS ONLINE

By Gabriel Ukuta Recent claims circulating online allege that former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, purchased a seaplane during his administration. These assertions have resurfaced in political conversations but remain entirely false, misleading, and historically inaccurate. A review of events during the Dickson administration confirms that no seaplane was ever bought by the Bayelsa State Government. Instead, what occurred was a demonstration flight by Aero Contractors, aimed at showcasing the potential of using the Oxbow Lake as a temporary water-based landing facility. Around the mid-years of Governor Dickson’s administration, Aero Contractors the well-known Nigerian airline flew a seaplane to Yenagoa for a one-off demonstration and feasibility assessment. The purpose was simple and transparent: To show that the Oxbow Lake in Yenagoa could serve as a temporary sea terminal for air access to Bayelsa. To explore alternative transportation options before the c...

  By Gabriel Ukuta The Bayelsa State Ministry of Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development has condemned all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), especially online abuse, in line with the global theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.” Speaking during the Walk Against Digital Violence and All Forms of Violence Against Women and Children on Thursday, 27 November 2025, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms. Agnes Oloye, urged young women and girls to exercise caution in their digital interactions. She advised them to refrain from sharing nude images with partners, warning that such content is often weaponized against victims on social media. Ms. Oloye described the increasing cases of cyberbullying, online blackmail, and the circulation of inappropriate images as “deeply troubling trends” that demand urgent community action. Addressing students of Government Science and Tech...

  By Gabriel Ukuta In a passionate intervention during today’s Senate deliberation on the worsening security situation in Nigeria, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson delivered a strong and uncompromising message: this is not the time for commendation, but for truth, honesty, accountability, and national resolve. The Senate had convened to debate a motion on the escalating wave of killings, abductions, terrorist attacks, and the latest disturbing incidents involving the murder of soldiers and senior officers including a Brigadier General and the abduction of schoolchildren across multiple states. The discussion came amid widespread public anxiety and a sense of national vulnerability. When recognized to speak, Senator Dickson reminded the Senate President that he had earlier raised concerns about the spiralling insecurity and the need for coordinated legislative action. He welcomed the debate but expressed strong dissatisfaction with the tone and thrust of the motion, particularly the pr...

Those who spent years relentlessly criticizing Senator SERIAKE HENRY DICKSON during his eight-year tenure as Governor of Bayelsa State (2012–2020) often presented themselves as the moral conscience of the state. They accused him of everything: underperformance, nepotism, poor infrastructure delivery, high debt profile, over-bloated civil service, and even personal extravagance. Many of these critics swore that virtually anyone else picked from the streets of Yenagoa would have done far better with the same resources. Yet, time has proved to be the most impartial judge. Since Dickson left office in February 2020, Bayelsa has had a new governor from the same political party (PDP), operating under significantly better financial conditions: the removal of fuel subsidy (which increased FAAC allocations), higher oil prices for much of the period, 13% oil derivation arrears paid to the state, and no major global pandemic disrupting governance. In short, the successor inherited a cleaner slate...

By Gabriel Ukuta  In a political space often defined by rivalry, distrust, and unsettling levels of personal antagonism, Senator Seriake Henry Dickson has once again offered a message that resonates far beyond Bayelsa State. His words “We are few; everyone is important. If you cannot help someone, leave the person alone, and don’t destroy them” have sparked conversations nationwide, albeit sometimes in a distorted, humorous, or cynical form on social media. Yet at its core, Dickson’s statement is far more profound than the viral paraphrases suggest. It is a call for restraint, unity, and constructive engagement in a region where political missteps and personal vendettas have historically carried heavy consequences. The Niger Delta, despite being the oil-producing lifeline of Nigeria, remains one of the nation’s most socially delicate and politically fragile regions. Its communities are deeply interconnected families, clans, and political networks overlap in ways that make destruct...

   By Gabriel Ukuta In a political landscape often shaken by rivalry, accusation, and bitter divisions, as the manner of many politicians is, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson stands out as a rare figure one whose leadership is built on honour, restraint, and an unwavering commitment to unity. For many Bayelsans, he is not just another politician; he is the only trustworthy Bayelsa politician, a man whose politics consistently uplifts rather than destroys, whose influence empowers rather than suppresses. Senator Dickson has earned this admiration through years of intentional leadership. Even at the height of political competition, he has never been known to pull others down. Instead, he builds people, develop communities, and values. He develops young leaders, empowers ordinary citizens, and grows individuals who once doubted their own potential. His political journey is filled with men and women who rose from quiet obscurity into meaningful roles simply because he believed in the...

By Emem Edidiong  In Nigerian politics, symbols often carry deeper meanings than manifestoes. The umbrella and the broom the emblems of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have come to represent two competing visions of governance, loyalty, and identity. The recent political transition of the Bayelsa State Government from the PDP to the APC has reignited an old debate: is a “leaking umbrella” truly better than a “broom”? At first glance, the metaphor may sound sentimental, even nostalgic, but beneath it lies a profound critique of political opportunism, ideological inconsistency, and the moral erosion of governance in the Niger Delta. For more than two decades, the PDP’s umbrella offered Bayelsa State and much of the Niger Delta a symbolic refuge. It represented inclusion, protection, and continuity. The umbrella was not perfect many say it leaked, representing internal corruption, leadership crises, and the inability to fully deliver the div...